Oneonta Implements Vacant Building Ordinance

At Tuesday's Oneonta Common Council meeting, the City of Oneonta implemented a new ordinance to deal with vacant houses which are often not maintained well or at all in some cases which can be dangerous, are typically unsightly as they degrade and are on property that is not always maintained either.  These homes can lower the value of neighboring homes and it's been an issue in Oneonta for a while.

According to Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig, with the new ordinance, the city has increased requirements for inspections and homeowners’ responsibilities to keep buildings safe and up to code. Mayor Gary Herzig said there are around 60 to 70 vacant houses in the city. This new ordinance is intended to get property owners of vacant buildings to step up and take better care of their properties.